Anti-vax poster child Craig Kelly refuses Novavax vaccine despite earlier interest

A protein based jab hoped to win over vaccine hesitant Australians has been rejected by outspoken MP Craig Kelly, despite his previous interest.

The anti-vaxxer’s MP of choice and vocal anti-vax rally mouthpiece Craig Kelly vows to stick to his trumped up Covid cures despite new treatments approved by the health regulator this week.

Novavax, the new protein based vaccine now available in Australia, is hoped to convince those hesitant against the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, but anti-vax poster MP Craig Kelly is refusing to undergo the jab despite earlier suggestions he would consider receiving Novavax.

Craig Kelly addressed a crowd in Martin Place during the 'World Wide Rally For Freedom' in Sydney. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

In December, Mr Kelly told the Sunday Telegraph he was not vaccinated against Covid but would consider Novavax.

“No I am not injected with any of the current Covid vaccines (although I may consider the Novavax injections if and when they are available) and I have done so on medical advice.”

But now, the former Liberal come United Australia Party member for Hughes has made up his mind.

“After having heard the Pfizer CEO state that 2 shots of his Covid vaccine ‘offers very limited protection, if any’ against Omicron, it doesn’t give me great confidence in any of the vaccines,” Mr Kelly said.

The Pfizer CEO was explaining the efficacy of a third booster shot to fortify against the Omicron strain.

“The concern that the medical experts that I have spoken with have expressed, is the current crop of vaccines (including Novavax) are ‘’mismatched’ – in that they were designed to tackle the original Alpha variant, not the current Omicron variant,” he said.

The new Merck Molnupirvir and Pfizer nirmatrelvir + ritonavir antivirals that inhibit viral growth were also given preliminary approval last week by the Therapeutic Goods Administration but Mr Kelly is vowing to stick to unproven treatments circulating in fringe forums and championed by radio hosts like Joe Rogan.

“I certainly would be taking either Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine before Molnupirivir,” Mr Kelly said.

Podcast host Joe Rogan has advocated the use of ivermectin to treat Covid. Picture: Supplied

Mr Kelly has also backed the antiparasitic drug, despite no evidence it’s effective. Picture: Gary Ramage

A Cochrane Library review of over 100 studies on ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug, found “the reliable evidence available does not support the use of ivermectin for treatment or prevention of COVID‐19.”

Mr Kelly is just one of a vocal group of publicly funded members of parliament actively undermining evidenced-based scientific advice by aligning with anti-vaccine outfits. Prime Minister Scott Morrison chastised George Christensen last week after his calls for parents not to vaccinate their children against Covid.

On Friday, Mr Kelly and Mr Christensen joined government senators Alex Antic and Matt Canavan, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, and Malcolm Roberts on a “Prayer and Pushback” forum hosted by ex-Hillsong minister Pat Mesiti who was ejected from the mega ministry for assaulting his wife and using prostitutes. The forum was critical of vaccination and featured guest Robert F Kennedy Jr from US anti-vaccine outfit Children’s Health Defence.

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Originally published as Anti-vax poster child Craig Kelly refuses Novavax vaccine despite earlier interest